Baseball falls at Azusa Pacific, Kennison '07 drives in two runs

Chris Kennison '07 went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base, but Whittier College lost 9-6 to Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. on February 6.  The Poets are now 0-5 on the year.

Nick Taiariol '08 went 3-for-5 with a run scored.  Blake Coddington '09 was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a double.  Ryan Martin '08 doubled, drove in a run and scored a run and Ty Crawford '07 drove in and scored a run.  Matt Schwarz '07 (0-1) picked up the loss after pitching two and two-thirds innings and giving up seven runs, two earned, on six hits and four walks.  Blake Luitwieler '08 pitched three innings of relief and allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out five.

For the second straight game, the Poets stranded 12 runners on base.  All of the Poets runs were unearned and came in the fifth inning.  Azusa picked up five runs in the first inning and added two in the third and one in the fourth to take an early 8-0 lead.  Whittier fought back with the big fifth inning, but couldn't string together enough hits an the second half of the game to cut into the lead any further.

The Poets travel to Anthem, Ariz. for a series of games that begin with Whitman College on February 15.